Corn-husker and fodder-shredder.



No. 731,178. PATEN'TED JUNE 16, 1903.

A J. R. HALL.

001111 HUSKER AND FODDER SHREDDER.

APPLICATION FILED DBO. 10, 1900.

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Patented June 16, 1903.

PATENT OFFICE.

JOSEPH R. HALL, OF INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA.

CORN-HUSKER AND FODDER-SHREDDER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 731,178, dated June16, 1903.

Application filed December 10,1900. Serial No. 39,281. (No model.)

To all whont it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOSEPH R. HALL, of Indianapolis, county of Marion,and State of Indiana, have invented a certain new and useful Corn-Huskerand Fodder-Shredder; and I do hereby declare that the-following is afull, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, in which like numerals refer to like parts.

This invention relates to novel features in the construction andarrangement of the parts of a corn-husking and fodder-shredding machine.

One feature of the invention consists in providing a gravitydepressedcorrugated feed-roll over the inner end of the main conveyer thatcooperates with the said conveyer in effecting a proper feed and thecombination therewith of a deflecting-board that extends from thefeed-roll toward the front part of the feeding apparatus and is inclinedupwardly from the feed-roll. This deflectingboard and the feed-roll aremounted on a pair of arms or bars pivoted to the front part ofthemachine, so as to ride by gravity upon the fodder being fed into themachine, and the lower part of the feed-roll extends below saiddeflecting-board. The effect of this is to provide a sort of feed-gateat the inner end of the conveyor and in close proximity to thesnapping-rolls to prevent the possibility of the hands of an attendantbecoming caught between the snapping-rolls and also to form a bar toarrest the movement of the upper portion of the mass of material on theconveyer,and the feed-roll being positively driven and extending belowthe deflecting-board or rear portion of the gate coacts with theconveyer below said deflecting-board or gate'to force thefodder betweenthe snap-rolls. This causes aconst-antly uniform feed. These and theother features of my invention will fully appear in the accompanyingdrawings and the following description and claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of the front portion ofthe machine with parts cut away to represent a side elevation of themachinery in which the invention resides. Fig. 2 is a plan of the frontportion of the machine. Fig. 3 is a plan of the huskingrolls andcooperating parts, the guard-board being removed and other parts brokenaway to more fully present the invention.

In the machine herein shown a suitable frame is provided having, amongother parts, an upright 1 on each side and a cross-piece 31 at the top.

2 is a shredding-cylinder mounted crosswise and horizontally in themachine and to which the fodder is fed mechanically between thesnap-rolls 3 and 4. The ears of corn are forced off by said snap-rollsas the fodder passes between them. The portion ofthe machine so fardescribed is old.

In front of the snap-rolls a slatted feed-conveyer 5 is mounted on therolls 6, 7, 8, and 9, which at each end are rotatably mounted on thesides of the frame formed by the uprights 1, horizontal beams 34,uprights 35 and 36, and inclined lower beams 37. 38 and' 39 are sidewalls of this frame. This framework at the front part of the machine isnot new nor are the rollers 6'and 9, mounted at each end upon the beams34. The roller? is mountedon a bearing (not shown) on the under side ofthe beam 34 and the roller v8 in a similar bearing (not shown) on anouter face of the uprights 36. The side walls 38 and 39 form afeed-trough in the bottom of which the feed conveyer or carrieroperates.

The feed conveyer or carrier is driven by the chain 10, running from thesprocket-wheel 11 on the shaft of the snap-roll 4 to the sprocket-wheel12 on the shaft of roller 6. The fodder is placed or fed upon theconveyer 5 and by it is carried under the feedroll 13, the surface ofwhich is longitudinally corrugated and causes it as it is rotated tograsp and force the fodder between the snaprolls. The feed-roll 13 ismounted horizontally above the roller 6, thatcarries the inner end ofthe conveyor in a pair of horizontal bars 14, pivotally mounted at 15 tothe frame-uprights 1 just over the snap-roll 3. This permits thefeed-roll to be moveddownward by gravity and to ride freely on thefodder, according to the bulk or amount passing under it. The surface ofthe roll 13 has no openings in it whereby the stalks of fodder can catchin the roll. It is driven by the chain 16, extending from thesprocket-wheel 17 on the shaft of the snap-roll 3 to the sprocket wheel18 on the spindle of said feed-roll 13.

A pair of arms 19 are rigidly connected with the bars 14 and extendforward and upward therefrom on each side of the feed-roll 13 to Ioocarry the board or gate 30, which acts as a guard or fender to preventany fodder passing above the feed-roll and has a gate that forms a guardwhich efiectively prevents an attendant from getting his hands caughtbetween the snapping-rolls when feeding grain thereto. Furthermore, theboard or gate 30 coacts with the feed-roll and the feed conveyer orcarrier in regulating the quantity fed to the snapping-rolls andpreventing the latter from becoming choked, for said board or gate formsa bar to arrest the movement of the upper portion of the mass ofmaterial on the feed conveyer or carrier. This construction makes a verysimple, economical, and positive feed mechanism, there being in additionto the conveyer merely the feed-roll 13. One effect of the constructionis that the operation and speed of the feed-roll are regulated andcontrolled by the snap-roll, so that there willbe a relativeuniformityof movement of the two rolls. Since none of the fodder cancatch in the feed-roll or pass above it, it all passes between said rolland the conveyer with uniformity and without hindrance or interference.

The ears of corn which are torn from the fodder by the snap-rolls fallupon the huskingrolls 20, which are arranged ,in pairs and mounted ateach end in the cross-piece 32, secured on the beams 37. These rolls arerotated by means not here shown, but familiar to all skilled in the art,so that the two rollers of each pair turn toward each other to catch thehusks and pull them away from the ears of corn. There is nothing new inthe husking-rolls herein shown orin the mounting and the means fordriving them. The corn passes over said rolls and over the board 40 andupon the discharge-conveyer 21. To assist in the movement of the corndown over said husking-rolls and to prevent lodgment in accumulation ofcorn, especially where husks are caught between the'rolls and hold theears of corn stationary, I provide the rollers 7 and 8 for lowering theunder side of the conveyer 5 to bring it in close proximity to andparallel with the series of husking-rolls,

whereby the slats of the conveyer knock down the ears of corn, thuscooperating with the husking-rolls to separate the ears of corn from thehusks and always moving the ears of corn downward and out of themachine. This is an important invention to prevent the choking of themachine and the interruption of its operation.

To cooperate with the arrangements of the conveyer or carrier in keepingthe machine clear of accumulations of ears of corn, I provide thehorizontal push-bar 23, that is located above but near to the series ofhuskingrolls near their inner ends, extending entirely across theseries. It is constantly reciprocated upon the husking-rolls by thelinks 25, connected with the crank-shaft 24, mounted on the under sideof the beams 34 and driven by the chain 27 from the roller 6, that runsover the sprocket-wheel 26 on said crankshaft. To prevent the ears ofcorn when dropping from the snap-rolls lodging behind the bar 23, Iprovide a stationary guardboard 22, secured at each end to the sides ofthe frame of the front part of the machine and extending down inclinedto a point immediately above the bar 23. The lower end of the plate mustnot extend behind the rear edge of the bar when in its outward limit ofmovement.

From the foregoing description it is clear that the corn will drop downupon the husking-rolls in front of the bar 23 and the husks thereof willbe caught by the husking-rolls, and the reciprocating movement of thebar 23 against the ears of corn will separate the ears from the husksand push the ears down within the grasp of the conveyer 5. With theconstruction I have devised no ear can possibly escape the action of thebar 23, for it extends across the entire series of huskingrolls. Thesame is true of the conveyer 5, and therefore there is no chance forthis machine to choke under any circumstances, and the continued anduniform operation of the machine, whether in feeding or in discharge ofthe ears of corn, will not be interrupted at any time.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent,is-- 1. In a corn-husker and fodder-shredder, the combination of anendless feed conveyer or carrier, 2. board or gate pivoted and inclinedrearwardly down toward the discharge portion of the feed-carriensaidboard or gate forming a bar to arrest the movement of the upper portionof the mass of material on the feed conveyer or carrier, and apositivelydriven feed-roll carried by the rear portion of the board orgate, having its lower side which coacts with the feed conveyer orcarrier below said gate adapted to rise and descend therewith,substantially as described.

2. A corn-nusker and fodder-shredder including an inwardly-movableconveyer, a corrugated feed-roll, bars pivoted to and extending forwardhorizontally from the framework to hold -the roll over the inner end ofthe conveyer, means for rotating the feed-roll so the lower edge willmove inward toward the mouth of the machine, arms rigidly secured to thefeed-roll-supporting bars and extending forward and inclined upward fromthe feed-roll, and a horizontal plate secured in an inclined position tosaid arms with its edge parallel with and close to said feed-roll.

In witness whereof I have hereunto affixed my signature in the presenceof the witnesses herein named.

I JOSEPH R. I-IALL.

Witnesses:

V. H. LooKWooD, LAURA HITT.

